Friday, June 8, 2018

Safe Harbor

This morning I was out biking on my prayer and worship route
at 0400. The wind was increasing and I had a feeling of a coming storm.As I pulled in between the lighted stone
columns at the entrance of our subdivision I felt a relief like I was entering
“Safe Harbor.”

“Passing
it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Now when much time had been
spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul
advised them,saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with
disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless the centurion was
more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things
spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the
majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach
Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there” (Acts 27:8-12).

Paul was a prisoner heading to Rome with other
prisoners. He cautioned against sailing because of the weather and difficult
coastline. But the centurion decided to sail on past “Fair Havens.”The remainder speaks of the great storm that
came up and brought a shipwreck. All survived as Paul had prophesied, but all
material goods were lost.How about you,
have you sailed past Fair Havens or safe harbor?Have you put aside good judgment or common
sense? Have you gone on your own advice and not God’s wisdom?I certainly have often. I write of disastrous
plane and car crashes from which I have survived by the grace of God. I write
about personal decisions that have led to career endings.

It was 1967 and I was sailing through the Virgin
Islands with fraternity brothers. We had wonderful weather and idyllic
conditions for the “bare boat” adventure. We stayed in the Cook Inlet for the
most part. We moored at British Virgin Islands at night, having snorkeled and
fished as we sailed through the warm and azure Caribbean waters. We found safe
harbor in tropical protected bays on quaint mountainous islands of Peter,
Tortola, Norman, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. We sometimes partied with the
folks on other sailboats that had found us. We were equipped with foreign beers
and rum from the ancient rum distillery, still running on a now abandoned cane
plantation worked by African slaves during the 17-18th centuries. We
had fish I caught while trolling and lobster from spearfishing. It was smooth
sailing to say the least.

On Virgin Gorda, the last of the chain before the
open dark blue Atlantic we found wonderful fishing and spearing. We anchored
off Saber Rock the last vestige of land. The 20 foot high coral heads hid giant
lobsters and schools of permit and mackerel harvested for our hibachi grill off
the back of our 27-foot Vega sloop. This was a paradise.

When it was time to start sailing back to Cruise
Bay, St. John we made what would be a dangerous decision. We decided to head
out and around the islands. It was exhilarating as the ocean spray cooled us in
the tropical sun and the waves rose above the boat. We could look into the dark
blue 20-foot waves seeing fish and porpoises.The main was full and it took all hands on deck to control her.
Fortunately we had one accomplished ocean sailor on board.

We tried the jib, but could only raise it half-mast
because of the winds blowing at 20 knots. Up and down the huge waves we cut. At
the tops we balanced and then raced down the steep sides to the bottoms. The
waves around us seemed to loom like skyscrapers. Waves were breaking over our
bow as we plunged on. Soon our moods changed from excitement to fear. We were
in over our heads, literally.The
sailors among us started giving edgy commands as we headed back towards the
islands that we could barely see except from the wave tops. This was indeed
uncharted water for us.

We reefed the sails to keep from capsizing. We were
in trouble as we headed into the monstrous waves. We had tied each of us to the
mast or strong parts of the boat for safety in the event we were washed
overboard. We kept tacking in. We threw a sea anchor to slow our pace.

Finally an island seemed to appear from nowhere. We
scuttled along side looking for an opening. Then it materialized through the
spray. The lines were burning our arms and hands, the sea searing eyes and
throats.We could see an entrance a few
hundred yards ahead. As waves crashed over us, we held our line, the keel
skipping almost out of the water. If it came out we were finished.

Our bow tore past the coral rocks by just a few
feet with waves splashing 25 feet in the air, our speed over 20 knots.Immediately we realized we were in “safe
harbor.” We had entered a protected coral bay. There were several sailboats
already there to seek protection from the seas. Our speed shot us forward into
the protected bay right at the others. Realizing we needed to avert another
potential disaster we threw the rudder and dropped the sails at once coming
about immediately and coming to a stop only a few yards from the other anchored
boats. It was an instinctual and almost blinding maneuver. Cheers went up as
our hearts and minds began to take in the calm waters and gorgeous harbor. The
other sailors were applauding what they told us looked like the maneuvers of a
seasoned America’s Cup Team.

Soon we were joined with the other boats and lashed
together to share and party. The rum flowed freely and the charcoal grills
started up to share in the seas bounteous fare. We were secure in “Safe harbor.”

Do you have a safe harbor? Do you know the only
safe harbor from the storms of life?Jesus Christ is the one who was with us in the boat as He was with the
Disciples on the swollen seas of Galilee. He will calm the storms on the sea
and in your lives if you trust Him as Savior and Lord. Do it today if you have
not for the seas are rising.